WASHINGTON -- The Keystone XL Pipeline isn't the only pipeline generating controversy on Capitol Hill. Plans by American Midstream Partners to abandon its 370-mile Midla Mainline pipeline in Louisiana has generated strong opposition from the state's congressional members who warn of big increases in natural gas prices for the 9,000 customers who rely on the facility.

The abandonment application is now pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Among those who have asked FERC to deny the application are Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and David Vitter, R-La., and Reps. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge and Vance McAllister, R-Swartz. Landrieu and Cassidy are the two leading candidates in the fall Senate race.

"If ArcLight is permitted by FERC to proceed with its abandonment plans the negative consequences of many of these small and rural communities would be severe," Landrieu said in in a letter to FERC Acting Chairwoman Cheryl LaFleur. "To give just one example, if approved in its current form the ArcLight proposal would result in at least a doubling of an average homeowners monthly utility bill. This extraordinary rate increase would wreak economic havoc in an area of Louisiana that is economically depressed."

"We understand that Midla customers have historically paid higher rates compared to other pipeline customers with the expectation that these rates were sufficient and the premium charged was appropriately applied to maintain the pipeline's integrity and safety," Vitter and Cassidy said in their own letter to FERC. "Clearly, American Midstream has failed its customers."

The pipeline, built in the 1920s, serves mostly rural communities in Franklin, Catahoula, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Concordia, West Feliciana, East Feliciana and East Baton Rouge Parishes.

Boston hedge fund company, ArcLight Capital Partners, last year bought American Midstream, which owns the pipeline. In its April filing with FERC, American Midstream argues the pipeline has leaked for decades, that the leaks are increasing and because of its age, modern tools are not helpful in predicting future leaks.

"While we are aware of no imminent danger, we cannot be sure the Midla pipeline is safe to operate," said Steve Bergstrom, American Midstream executive chairman, president and CEO. "The fact that the pipeline is still in service five decades beyond its predicted useful life is a testament to Midla's maintenance program. Like an old car, however, there is only so much maintenance that can be done before the frame gives way and the car must be replaced."

Cassidy, the Baton Rouge congressman and McAllister, the first-term Swartz Republican, recently requested the safety history of the pipeline from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The results were mixed.

The report said that in 2001 the agency "issued a correction action order" due to a pipeline failure near the Black Bayou in Louisiana. Since the order, the agency said that 22.4 miles of pipeline were abandoned.

Since 2006, it said that there have been "four compliance letters to the company, none of which were "considered among the stronger enforcement actions."

"The Federal pipeline safety regulations were issued in 1968-1970," wrote Cynthia Quarterman, the PHMSA administrator. "Pipelines built prior to this time used a variety of construction materials and methods and are not generally comparable to pipelines built in the last few decades. Some of the pipelines built in the 1920s may still operate safety today, almost 90 years after their construction. However, other pipelines do not fare as well, as they can be exposed to an increasing number of threats during operations."

Cassidy said he spoke to LaFleur and her team recently "to make sure they are listening to our concerns, taking into consideration the thousands of people that would be affected if the pipeline were to shut down."

As far as the "other" pipeline in the news, the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline between Canada and Texas refineries, Senate action to move the project's approval without the White House seems unlikely. The State Department delayed a decision on the pipeline, proposed by TransCanada, because the project's route through Nebraska remains uncertain because of a challenge now being heard by that state's Supreme Court.

Bruce Alpert is the Washington based-reporter for NOLA.com/Times-Picayune. He can be reached at balpert@nola.com